Thailand Live Tuesday 5 May 2015

[webfact]

Thai Coronation Day



The coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej took place on 5 May 1950. His Majesty is the ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty. On 5 May of every year, the Thai people rejoice and express their affection and loyalty to him by organizing a celebration on his coronation day.

Prior to the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut), there was no coronation ceremony in Thailand, there was only private ceremony held by high ranking officials to celebrate their Royal Regalia and positions in the 6th lunar month.

A coronation, however, took place for the first time when King Rama IV was crowned on 15 May 1851. King Mongkut thought that the Coronation was an auspicious occasion but thought that it would be dificult to explain the meaning of the coronation day to his subjects in detail, he thus called this day as a “ceremony to commemorate the Royal Regalia” but was quite similar to that of a coronation. On that day (the 13th of the full moon in the 6th lunar month), following day monks were invited to have meal at the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall in Grand Palace. During the reign of the present king, the ceremony is performed for three days. The first day falls on 3 May in which the following ceremony will be performed; the king performs a merit-making ceremony at the Audience Hall of Amarindra in dedication to the deceased kings while Buddhist monks chant, give a sermon and perform a requiem on the royal ashes of the deceased kings.

On 4 May, the Coronation Ceremonies begin with the proclamation of the Coronation Day read by the Chief of Brahmin priests followed by an evening chanting performed by Buddhist monks. Finally, 5 May is the actual date of the ceremony in which food is to be offered to monks and followed by a celebration of the Royal Regalia. At noon the Army and Navy fire a 21-gun salute in honour of the king. On this day, His Majesty the King also presents the royal decorations to the people who have made a valuable contribution to the country.

Source: http://learnthaiwithmod.com/2014/05/coronation-day-วันฉัตรมงคล/

-- 2015-05-05

[webfact]

LONDON (AP) - Palace: Britain's newborn princess has been named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

[webfact]

UPDATE:

SONGKHLA
Migrant graveyard arrests
THE NATION


An illegal migrant, one of four found alive near a mass grave in an area bordering Malaysia, eats a snack while being treated at Padang Besar Hospital in Songkhla

4 suspects held, 4 sought; Satun police chief among senior officers transferred

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL police chief said yesterday that the head of Satun police will be suspended from duty in connection with the ongoing investigation into human traffickers active near the southern border.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822477-four-arrested-for-alleged-involvement-with-the-trafficking-of-rohingyas/#entry9371906

[webfact]

TRAFFICKED MIGRANTS
Families forced to pay ransom for Bangladeshis stuck in jungle camps
THE DAILY STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
DHAKA



DHAKA: -- PROMISING jobs in Malaysia, a gang of human traffickers held about 250,000 Bangladeshis captive in Thailand for ransom over the past eight years and made millions of taka (a million taka is about Bt428,000).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822606-families-forced-to-pay-ransom-for-bangladeshis-stuck-in-thai-jungle-camps/

[webfact]

Drunk Traffic Police Volunteer reprimanded following 'incident' in Jomtien



PATTAYA: -- A uniformed Traffic Police Volunteer was briefly detained by Pattaya Police in the early hours of Monday following a drink-related incident in front of a house in Jomtien.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822607-drunk-traffic-police-volunteer-reprimanded-following-incident-in-jomtien/

[webfact]

Suspected Drug Dealer arrested at South Pattaya Restaurant



PATTAYA: -- Just before daybreak on Monday, Police raided the staff quarters of a South Pattaya Restaurant and arrested a suspected drug dealer who was caught with a large quantity of class 1 drugs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822608-suspected-drug-dealer-arrested-at-south-pattaya-restaurant/

[webfact]

Allegations of Police inaction over East Pattaya Land Dispute case



PATTAYA: -- On Monday we met a family who would like us to highlight a case of suspected inaction by local Police over harassment and intimidation allegations from another family member who wants his sister to sign over a piece of land to him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822609-allegations-of-police-inaction-over-east-pattaya-land-dispute-case/

[webfact]

Army Officer becomes victim of latest Pattaya Necklace Snatch



PATTAYA: -- An Army Sub-Lieutenant and her friend became the latest victims of a Pattaya Necklace Snatch on Monday Night, although the necklace was recovered and the two perpetrators were arrested.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822610-army-officer-becomes-victim-of-latest-pattaya-necklace-snatch/

[webfact]

ENERGY AUCTION
Petroleum exploration bidding to resume
WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND will finally kick off the 21st round of bidding for domestic petroleum exploration and production next month after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered a three-month delay for the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to amend the petroleum laws.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822611-petroleum-exploration-bidding-to-resume/

[webfact]

POLITICS
Democrat slams govt over falling prices of farm produce
THE NATION


Former Democrat party-list MP Watchara Petthong presents some fruit and vegetables during his press conference at the Democrat Party headquarters yesterday. He is calling on the government to address the problem of levying taxes on LPG

BANGKOK: -- GOVERNMENT ministers should be sacked if they fail to effectively address plummeting produce prices, former Democrat Party MP Watchara Phetthong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822612-democrat-slams-thai-govt-over-falling-prices-of-farm-produce/

[webfact]

NEW CHARTER
Referendum should 'focus on key charter points'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE National Legislative Assembly yesterday threw its support behind submitting the new constitution to a public vote of confidence, but only on critical points, as most of it is regarded as fine already.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822613-thai-referendum-should-focus-on-key-charter-points/

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Fresh horror HAUNTS Thailand's TIP upgrade bid

PRAYUT'S PLEDGE TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS BEEN DIVERTED INTO A PUBLIC RELATIONS EXERCISE

BANGKOK: -- The discovery of 26 corpses of what are believed to be Muslim Rohingya migrants threatens to sink Thailand's already dismal reputation on human trafficking even further.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822614-fresh-horror-haunts-thailands-tip-upgrade-bid/

[webfact]

STREETWISE
The nightmare infrastructure RUINING our holiday dreams

BANGKOK: -- During any long holiday period we get endless news reports on traffic conditions, particularly on jammed roads leading to the north and the northeast.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822615-thai-opinion-the-nightmare-infrastructure-ruining-our-holiday-dreams/

[webfact]

Jet Ski Operators Return to Surin Beach, Phuket Police Investigate

Phuket officials are investigating reports that jet ski operators have returned to Surin Beach despite the ban. Phuriphat Theerakulpisut, the Phuket Marine Office Chief, will be leading the investigation that was sparked by reports and photos of jet skis being brought onto the beach. Some were also reportedly driven dangerously close to nearby swimmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822597-jet-ski-operators-return-to-surin-beach-phuket-police-investigate/

[webfact]

Krabi police nab man with 24,000 ya bah pills
Darawan Naknakhon


Boon Hai had the pills, pistol and bullets on the passenger seat of his car.

KRABI: -- Highway Police in Krabi today arrested a man from Pattalung who had in his possession 24,000 methamphetamine pills (ya bah), a 9mm pistol and 13 bullets.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822617-krabi-police-nab-man-with-24000-ya-bah-pills/

[webfact]

Peace TV in plea for UN help
THE NATION


News anchors from Peace TV release doves outside the Escap office in Bangkok yesterday, where they submitted an open letter calling on the United Nations to pressure the government over its recent order revoking |the station

BANGKOK: -- PHEU THAI Party's Weng Tojirakarn yesterday called on the United Nations to help save the politically-oriented Peace TV station.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822618-peace-tv-in-plea-for-un-help/

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Claimed faults in charter draft could seal its fate
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- THE POSSIBILITY that the charter draft will be passed by the National Reform Committee has been thrown into serious doubt after some critics in the NRC have shown disapproval of several major points written by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822619-thai-politics-claimed-faults-in-charter-draft-could-seal-its-fate/

[webfact]

Thai donations to Nepal surpass Bt100m
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Donations from Thailand to quake victims in Nepal under the government-initiated "Thai Hearts to Nepal" campaign stood at Bt111.89 million as of May 3, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Spokesman Sek Wannamathee added that aside from cash donations, Thai teams are now helping victims near Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. During April 30-May 2, 420 patients were treated, 60 per cent suffering injuries. A team is also on foot to a trekking village with 800 residents, to monitor psychological impacts as well as advise on disease control.

Three Thais in Nepal are now residing at the Embassy, together with 11 staff and their family members. On the morning of May 4, two C-130 aircraft left for Kathmandu, loaded with necessities like plastic sheets, blankets and equipment to produce drinking water.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thai-donations-to-Nepal-surpass-Bt100m-30259309.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-05

[webfact]

Police want status of UFUN scheme elevated to transnational crime
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- POLICE ARE seeking the permission of public prosecutors to elevate the status of the allegedly fraudulent UFUN Thailand scheme to a transnational crime, Pol Lt-General Suwira Songmetta, assistant national police chief, said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822620-thai-police-want-status-of-ufun-scheme-elevated-to-transnational-crime/

[webfact]

Authorities begin checking fishing vessels in the sea to stem out human trafficking



BANGKOK: - Marine police began random check of all fishing vessels at the mouth of the Tha Chin river as part of an effort to stem out human trafficking problem prevalent in the fishery industry.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822622-thai-authorities-begin-checking-fishing-vessels-in-the-sea-to-stem-out-human-trafficking/

[webfact]

A name for Britain's new princess: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
By SYLVIA HUI

LONDON (AP) — It's a name that immediately evokes British royal history: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822627-a-name-for-britains-new-princess-charlotte-elizabeth-diana/

[webfact]

Cartoon contest organizer known for inflammatory rhetoric
By MEGHAN BARR

NEW YORK (AP) — The Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest that exploded in violence over the weekend in Texas was organized by Pamela Geller, a New Yorker who rails against Islam with such ferocity that one of the nation's top civil rights groups lists her in its "extremist files."

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822629-texas-cartoon-contest-organizer-known-for-inflammatory-rhetoric/

[webfact]

Accused Texas gunman well-known to FBI before attack
By EILEEN SULLIVAN, ERIC TUCKER and RYAN VAN VELZER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Since at least 2007, the FBI has been able to recognize the voice of Elton Simpson — one of the men suspected in the Texas shootings outside a contest featuring cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822632-accused-texas-gunman-well-known-to-fbi-before-attack/

[webfact]

Israeli foreign minister steps down to join opposition
IAN DEITCH, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's foreign minister dealt a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's effort to build a coalition by announcing Monday he is stepping down and that his secular, nationalist party is joining the opposition.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822634-israeli-foreign-minister-lieberman-steps-down-to-join-opposition/

[webfact]

State: No evidence of conflict in Clinton Foundation gifts
By MATTHEW LEE and LISA LERER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Monday it has no evidence that any actions taken by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton when she was secretary of state were influenced by donations to the Clinton Foundation or former President Bill Clinton's speaking fees.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822636-state-no-evidence-of-conflict-in-clinton-foundation-gifts/

[webfact]

Man stomps on lover to death for refusing to buy him drinks

Roi Et: - Police are tracking down a 79-year-old man on suspicion of killing his 43-year-old in-law and lover in a rage.

Roi Et Hospital officials alerted police that a brutally-beaten woman had died yesterday following two-week treatment at the hospital.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822635-man-stomps-on-lover-to-death-for-refusing-to-buy-him-drinks/

[webfact]

Police to charge ex-nurse for murder and theft

Bangkok: –Metropolitan Police will charge suspect Sirikan Suwanfoo, 28 for killing Sommat Pongpokha, 61, and stealing his car following a tryst on April 11.

The case is expected to be transferred to the jurisdiction of Crime Suppression Division to complete the police report because the crimes happened in Bangkok and several provinces.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822633-police-to-charge-ex-nurse-for-murder-and-theft/

[webfact]

Man loses job because of hatred speech agains cyclists

Chiang Rai:- A Facebook user has lost his job over an unkind remark that suggested he had no regard for three bicyclists killed in a drunk-driving accident.

Chiangrai Sintanee Company has terminated its employment of Wissawapol (surname withheld) from May 4 onward in response to his inappropriate verbal expression.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822631-man-loses-job-because-of-hatred-speech-agains-cyclists/

[webfact]

New Website Pushes for a Democratic Referendum on New Constitution

A group of over 150 people are making a push for democratic referendum on Thailand’s new constitution. The group, which is led by academics Charnvit Kasetsiri and Nidhi Eawsriwong, has launched a website (prachamai.org) that allows people to vote on various aspects of the draft and propose topics to be put to a referendum.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822601-new-website-pushes-for-a-democratic-referendum-on-new-constitution/

[webfact]

Locals Protest Museum Consolidation Plan

Residents in Thailand’s central provinces are protesting the Fine Arts Department’s plan to consolidate small museums. Residents of Chai Nat and Nakhom Pathom provinces are opposed to the measure, which would move local exhibits to larger regional museums.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822599-locals-protest-museum-consolidation-plan/